Assessment of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Grain Yield and Other Yield Attributing Traits in Elite Lines of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during Kharif, 2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Maruteru, with an objective to study the genetic parameters and magnitude of variability for yield enhancement. The experimental material comprised of 88 elite lines including checks namely, Maruteru Samba (MTU 1224), Sravani (MTU 1239), Maruteru Mahsuri (MTU 1262), Improved Samba Mahsuri, Swarna, TN1 and Krishnaveni which were evaluated in alpha lattice design with two replications. Observations on days to 50 % flowering, plant height (cm), ear bearing tillers per m2 , panicle length (cm), number of grains per panicle, test weight (g), spikelet fertility (%) and grain yield per plant (g) were recorded. The analysis of variance among 88 elite lines revealed the presence of significant differences for all 8 characters indicating the existence of variability in the material. The mean performance of the elite lines studied for yield and yield components revealed that the lines AM885, AM891 and AM913 significantly outperformed the superior yield check Sravani for panicle length, ear-bearing tillers per m2 , number of grains per panicle, test weight, and grain yield per plant. The genetic parameters revealed that high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean for the traits days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, test weight, spikelet fertility and grain yield per plant.